Ok, I just about hate Ltc now!

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It's pretty sad when your stomach starts to hurt at just the thought of going to work.... You spend your days off dreading going back to work...

I haven't worked at the same place for the last 6 years.. I worked at a LTC facility for about 1 1/2 years before I left to work agency... where of course, I worked in nursing homes... I finally gave up agency work for something more steady.. and of course, it's a ltc facility. I've been at the same place for about 2 years now.

Every facility is the same.. The only difference? My pay rate.

The politics are all the same... Every department head... they are either related to someone, or are working their because their friend works there... Kinda like, the circle of friends.. they all work at the same places and when someone goes to another facility, like, the administrator goes to another facility, everyone follows and is given administrative positions...

With everyone in "charge", it's hard to have any order because you can't say anything about anything they do.... but yet when there's someone that they don't like, like elementary children, they head hunt and just look for things that are not being done so that they can fire someone..

This is very difficult for me, as I've never been a suck up. I always just come into work, do my job the best I can and then go home. I don't find the time to socialize with the "clique." I shouldn't have to suck up.

It never fails, this is how every place basically functions. I don't have very many options in places to work, as there are not that many places to work around here... I'm not iv-certified. I've applied at different hospitals, but I have the feeling since I've been in LTC so long, I'm not hospital appropriate..

It's gotten to the point that I don't even want to be a nurse anymore. Lpn's don't have that many options besides nursing homes in my area. Nursing homes aren't about the residents.. it's about who you know.. and who you know dictates if you're going to be disciplined for mistakes..or if everyone is just going to joke about stuff.

I love taking care of the older folk.. I just can't stand the LTC politics!!!

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That was my experience.

Getting the RN opened a lot of doors. I did it online, via Excelsior, and was it worth it.

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Specializes in LPN.

Yes, I can relate. I have always loved taking care of people, but the workplace environment can really get to you. Some types of facilities are better than others. I prefer group homes for the developmentally disabled because staffing is so much better and I feel there is a much higher standard of care that can be provided to the residents than what you find in a standard nursing home. You can't get away from workplace politics and drama no matter where you go, but it can be a change of pace.

I plan to go back for my RN next fall. It's not that I think RN jobs are so much more perfect than LPN jobs, but you do have more variety of specialties and work environments to choose from.

And congrats on your RN, Suesquatch! I noticed your new name, but hadn't had the chance to say anything yet. :)

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I am a nursing student going for my RN now, I am working on my CNA but I am trying to use it in a hospital setting for this same reason. I have a friend who is a LPN and she is basically going thru the same problems. She has switched so many facilities and they basically all run out eventually so when they need someone here they come calling you to go through the same nonsense. Nursing appears to be the type of career that school is a requirement to sought of get away from that. You could try a doctors office but I am sure the payrate would be a cut, but maybe it will allow you to go back to school, or you can become iv cert and just keep looking. If I do not find something in a hospital setting I plan on working p/t for a LTC Rehab while I keep looking for a hospital setting I figure sooner or later it will all happen just don't give up. I know people can be rude, insentive, unprofessional and the whole bit, but Nursing is your career dont let them take that from you.

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i went back to school to become a rn for exactly the same reason. i was so sick and tired of politics and i hated the fact that i didnt have lot of job options. i used to be so afraid of getting fired but now i'm not afraid any more becuase i have more job opportunities. now i go to work with an attitude of "if you want to get rid of me thats fine with me because i can find plenty of other jobs" i know this is a completely wrong attitude but frankly managemers are power tripping and they want you to kiss their asses and no i aint kissing any asses.

do you think working environment in the hospitals are better than ltc???

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Ugh, I remember those days. Dreading work so much that I'd get heart burn every time I was at work. The day I stopped working at that facility the heart burn left for good. :D

Still have it at my current facility but this time I am in school so I have an out in the near future and I became friends with the DON. ;)

If you can't beat em join em! HEH

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It sounds like my workplace... do I know you???

I'm sorry you feel like that, I know sometimes it seems like you can't do anything but so far you are doing good by staying out of hot water, but please if you feel like your patients' rights are being violated take action... it tends to happen often on this kind of facilities. And if possible, look for a way to better your education so you can move to a better place.

Remember the sky is the limit :)

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Thank you to everone for your replies. Of course patient care is being compromised... I don't think I've ever worked at a facility were the "strings" ran so deep... as in, I can't complain about many stna's because they are either "BFF's" (ha ha) with department heads or are related. And sadly, this goes all the way up to the administrator.. It's not like I'm LOOKING to complain about things, its just the preferential treatment that goes on.. Whelp, I'm on my way back to work.. I'll let you know if I get fired or not, as I seem to be the new "victim"

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Specializes in ICU,IV Team, Endoscopy, CM, LTC, Homecar.

I agree 100% with you. I worked as a cna, the qma. When I graduated with my RN, I ended up going back to a LTC facility, being rn, then charge then adon, then don. I ended up leaving because it was not about the residents, and I reported 2 of the nurses to SBON, for abuse to a resident, they in turn filed a complt against me

for taking pain meds (chronic pain from nursing) still dealing with all that from 5yrs ago. Anyway it was all because I stood up to their favorite nurses for taunting/teasing and physically abusing a resident who was w/c bound. Go figure! I hate to say don't cross their click, but be very careful. Good Luck:twocents:

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Specializes in Rehab, LTC, school nursing.

Yea I learned the hard way about GLC also. But being let go from that place turned out to bet the best thing that ever happened to me! Out of LTC now and not going back, EVER!!! I will never regret the experiences I had in LTC and forever greatful for the great start in nursing I recieved from the experienced staff there.

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Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU, Psych, Med-surg...etc....

I had a job once that literally made me sick! I would smoke, I swear, almost a pack of cigarettes before I got there every day and the whole time there was a wreck because I was so afraid of loosing my license. I spent 12-14 hours a day there (management salaried...haha...no extra) and could not eat or sleep. My third month there I came down with a raging case of pneumonia (smoking, not eating, not sleeping, stressing) ...well that didn't teach me so guess what...two weeks after treatment I got pneumonia again (probably MRSA.. hehe)...anyway, that was the deciding factor (plus my husband said I was no good to him dead) so I resigned, worked my 30 day notice and went to the hospital for awhile. It was grand! I worked nights, had a great team, and did that for a year before returning again to management in LTC. I swore to myself that I would never allow myself to be in a position where I was such a wreck...nothing is worth that, not money, not experience, not anything and nothing is worse than actually dreading to go to work. Work is work, but it should not be something that makes you ill just thinking about it! I feel for you and hope that things get better, or that you are able to find something that suits you more and makes you feel more at ease.

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Specializes in acute care and geriatric.
That was my experience.

Getting the RN opened a lot of doors. I did it online, via Excelsior, and was it worth it.

Good 4 U !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:yeah:

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